Israeli trade union announces one-day strike on Monday
The head of Israel’s Histadrut labour union called for a general strike beginning at 6 a.m. local time on Monday to pressure the government into reaching a deal to return Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
Arnon Bar-David, whose union represents hundreds of thousands of workers, called on all civilian workers to join the strike and said Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main air transport hub, would be closed from 8 a.m.
Bar-David said that for now, the strike would just be for Monday but he sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for failing to bring hostages back alive.
“The neglect of the economy must be stopped,” Bar-David said at a news conference. “Israel must be returned to a reasonable routine... We must reach a deal. A deal is more important than anything else.
“We are getting body bags instead of a deal.”
'This nightmare needs to end' - Families of American hostages in Gaza demand hostage deal
The Families of American Hostages in Gaza group has said "enough is enough," following the death of American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was among the six hostages executed by Hamas and recovered by Israeli forces.
"We demand Prime Minister Netanyahu close the deal with Hamas and bring the hostages home to their loved ones," read a statement from the group.
"It’s well past time to bring all the hostages home. Sagui, Omer, Edan, and Keith need to come home now. We need to bring Judy, Gadi, and Itay home and lay them to rest.
"For the 101 remaining hostages and their families, this nightmare needs to end.”
Civilians are stuck 'in a war between two psychopaths,' cousin of killed hostage says
The grieving cousin of slain hostage Carmel Gat told NBC News he wants her to know that their family was sorry that they weren't able to bring her home, offering harsh criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Gil Dickmann said the blood of the hostages is on Netanyahu and the government's hands, accusing the prime minister of caring more about politics than the lives of hostages. He believes it's the mission of "horrible people from both sides" to make it impossible for Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace together.
"I know we are now in a war between two psychopaths because Sinwar and Benjamin Netanyahu, both of them are just having their own war between each other," Dickmann said, referring to Hamas' leader Yahya Sinwar. "We're dying in the midst of it."
Gat was Dickmann's oldest cousin, a woman he described as "peace loving" who did not see borders between people and nations. She would have been released in the early wave of a potential cease-fire deal, which has a framework but has not been agreed upon.
Dickmann said that he would continue to fight for the release of the remaining hostages in Gat's honor, and that he hopes one day to see her again to hear her story.
"These leaders are to blame, and the terror organization is to blame, and the government that decided to sacrifice the lives of the hostages, they're all to blame," Dickmann said. "But people, innocent people, on either side should not pay the price of this horrible war between these two organizations."
Sullivan to meet with families of American hostages in Gaza
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan plans to hold a virtual meeting today with the families of the American hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, a spokesperson for the National Security Council confirmed to NBC News.
Hostage Families Forum posts protest schedule
The Hostage and Missing Persons Families Forum has scheduled two protests in Israel today as they call for a cease-fire deal that will see the remaining hostages return home.
The group has also organized a vigil honoring those killed in Gaza.
At 4 p.m. local time, it said there will be a demonstration at the Joint Square during the Israeli government's cabinet meeting.
At 6 p.m. the group has scheduled a vigil at the Hostage Families Forum.
And at 7 p.m. it said a "massive rally" will take place at Begin Gate in HaKirya, Tel Aviv, with hostages' families and "hundreds of thousands of supporters."
Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir calls for terrorist death penalty and return of checkpoints in the West Bank
Israel’s far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has submitted a proposal calling for the death penalty for terrorists.
In a post on X, he said: "We submitted a death penalty law for terrorists, and the Prime Minister is delaying it. I intend to fight for it — it’s time to pass the law."
In another post, he also called for the return of checkpoints in the occupied West Bank.
Funeral for Hersh Goldberg-Polin will be held tomorrow
The family of 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin announced that his funeral will be held tomorrow at Har Hamenuchot in Jerusalem.
Flags at half-staff in Virginia in honor of Hersh Goldberg-Polin
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin ordered the state's flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
"Suzanne and I are angered and heartbroken by the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a senseless murder at the hands of terrorists," Youngkin said. "Today, Virginians, Americans, and the world join the Goldberg-Polin family and the Keneseth Beth Israel Synagogue in prayer."
Netanyahu 'responsible' for hostage deaths, says Palestinian lawmaker
Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his 'extremist' government are responsible for "the escalation of the dangerous situation and the killing of Israeli prisoners."
In a post on X, he blamed Netanyahu for refusing to a cease-fire and expanding the war in the West Bank.
"Netanyahu does not care about the lives of anyone, including Israeli prisoners, and his only concern is saving himself from accountability," he said.
Netanyahu apologizes to family of killed hostage
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to the family of Alexander Lobanov for not bringing him and the other five hostages back alive, according to a statement from the prime minister's office.
Lobanov, 32, will be buried in Ashkelon this afternoon. He is survived by his parents, wife and two children, one of whom was born while he was in captivity. Lobanov was working as a bar manager at the Supernova music festival, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. He had helped evacuate people and ran with five others to the Be’eri forest, where he was captured.
According to the prime minister's office Netanyahu will speak with the families of other hostages today.